Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has affirmed that Vietnam always exerts best efforts to assist Laos in national development, and strengthen bilateral fraternal ties and effective coordination at regional and global forums. 

At the meeting

He made the statement at the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee held in Hanoi on February 7-8. This was the first time the PMs of the two countries had co-chaired an Inter-Governmental Committee meeting, demonstrating the two governments’ commitment to effectively implementing their cooperation plan for 2017.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged both countries to work closely together to prepare for the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). 

He pledged to drastically direct ministries, agencies, localities, businesses and relevant units to coordinate with Lao partners to realise commitments set at the meeting. 

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, for his part, vowed to cooperate with Vietnam to hold celebrations of the two countries’ major anniversaries and raise public awareness of the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity, especially among young generations. 

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the effective implementation of high-level agreements and deals between ministries, agencies and localities last year. Bilateral ties across political, diplomatic, national defence-security, economic and socio-cultural fields have been strengthened and expanded. 

Education is a highlight in bilateral cooperation, with more than 14,000 Lao students are pursuing studies in Vietnam. 

Regarding investment partnership, Vietnamese firms have poured nearly 3.7 billion USD into more than 400 projects in Laos. 

A new mechanism to coordinate bilateral cooperation was introduced at the meeting. 

Both sides agreed to reinforce political, diplomatic, national defence-security, investment and trade ties while expanding coordination in human resources training, transport infrastructure, and the sustainable use and management of water and natural resources. 

They were determined to work closely together to hold the Year of Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship 2017, the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the TAC signing. They also pledged to provide mutual support at regional and global organisations and forums. 

Following the meeting, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of four cooperation documents, including an agreement on cooperation plan in 2017 between the two governments, the minute of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee’s 39th meeting, a collaboration plan between the two education ministries, and a minutes on the establishment of a joint-venture to build a 500kV power transmission line connecting the two countries. 

The two PMs later also co-chaired a press conference on the outcomes of the meeting.

President hails outcomes of Vietnam-Laos Inter-Gov’t Committee meeting

President Tran Dai Quang (R) and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith

President Tran Dai Quang has hailed the outcomes of the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, saying that orientations and contents agreed at the meeting are important to accelerate the implementation of high-level agreements. 

Receiving Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi on February 8, the President asked the PMs of the two countries to direct ministries, agencies and localities to realise the outcomes of the 39th meeting while continuing to facilitate the exchange of visits at all levels. 

The Lao PM is in Vietnam to co-chair the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, which took place in the Hanoi on February 8. 

President Tran Dai Quang called for increasing connectivity between the two economies to lift two-way trade, partly by prioritising energy and transport projects, dealing with existing barriers and providing all possible support for Vietnamese investors in Laos. 

He proposed close coordination between Vietnam and Laos to celebrate the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation this year, as well as offering mutual support in regional and global forums to further deepen linkages in the ASEAN Community, increase ASEAN’s central role and common voice in regional strategic issues. 

The Vietnamese State leader reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of giving high priority to the special solidarity with Laos and full support for Laos’ reform and national construction and defence.

The Lao PM, for his part, informed the host of the outcomes of the 39th meeting, affirming that both sides have pledged to build on the past achievements to further deepen bilateral economic ties to match the growing political links between the two nations.-VNA

Top legislator pledges to facilitate Vietnam-Laos agreements

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (right) receives the Lao Prime Minister 

The Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) will work closely with its Lao counterpart to create all optimal conditions for the two governments to effectively implement Vietnam-Laos high-level agreements and cooperation pacts, said NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

While receiving Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi on February 8, Chairwoman Ngan spoke highly of the important outcomes of the freshly-ended 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee, which was co-chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart.

Ngan said the Vietnamese NA will also facilitate the implementation of investment and trade cooperation projects between the two nations as well as the contents reached by the two Prime Ministers at the meeting.

The top legislator informed her guest about the effective cooperation between the two legislatures in the recent past, stressing that the two bodies will coordinate closely to successfully organise celebrations for the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Amity and Cooperation Treaty.

For his part, PM Sisoulith thanked Vietnam for its great and effective support and assistance to Laos over the past years.

Having briefed his host about the outcomes of the meeting, he affirmed that the Lao Government will collaborate with its Vietnamese counterpart to carry out agreements signed between senior Party and State leaders as well as cooperation contents reached at the 39th session of the intergovernmental committee.

The Lao PM also expressed his wish that the Vietnamese NA will support the deployment of agreements signed between the two nations in order to elevate  bilateral socio-economic cooperation to be on a par with political relations between the two Parties and States.

VNA